Goodbye, my love
Today is the day I cease to be a civil servant. Today, I say goodbye to one of my first loves. Yes, I loved being a civil servant – it was more than a job to me.
Before I started my life as a SAHM, my life was simply separated into two halves. After the first 6 years of bliss and ignorance, I was a student for 16 years. After that, I was a civil servant for another 16 years. (Now you all know how old I am…)
I joined the civil service for the simple reason that I wanted to serve the public. Of course, there were many ways to do it, but somehow, I chose the civil service route. I enjoyed my days as a civil servant, because I liked the fact that my hard work was not enriching someone, but I was benefiting the members of the public.
These were photos of my early days with Ministry of Home Affairs,
and then with the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
I was doing HR when I was in the SPF.
I cared so much for the Police Officers.
I was proud of what they do, keeping Singapore safe.
I was proud of the role I played
in taking care of their pay, benefits and career development
so they could concentrate on doing what they do best in.
My years with Ministry of Home Affairs and Singapore Police Force were precious to me, also because I got married and had my three children while working with the organisation. I must say, that civil service has rather good welfare for full-time working parents. Before I left, I had 28 yeas of vacation leave and 6 days of childcare leave.
I was very happy juggling my work and my three children. I was a hardworking civil servant – often leaving the office after 8pm, and working through lunch. I did not mind it – my children were in my mother’s good hands, and the office allowed me the flexibility of taking leave or time-off to meet the children’s teachers, or for the children’s performances. I enjoyed all the “bring your children to work” and family days.
I loved my job – the intellectual challenge and the sense of accomplishment. I loved doing it, and I wanted to do it well, because I truly cared for the people whom I served.
I have so many memories of my personal life, weaved into my working life.
I displayed so many photos in my office over the years.
Of Edmund and myself, before we got married.
Of Elkan and Elias when they were babies.
Of Samuel when he was a baby.
But all good things come to an end.
God was good, He made the exit easy for me. First, I had to take no pay leave for my family’s needs. Then, while I was outside the civil service, Singapore started changing. My organisation changed too. Colleagues and friends whom I cared about left, and my emotional connection became loose. I finally had to admit to myself – that I cannot love an organisation the way I love an individual. An organisation has little loyalty to me, no matter how much I want to be loyal to it.
I received an award for my years of service. I liked that.
I also received many many gifts over the years, but I liked these two cards,
because the givers took the effort to write long messages to me 🙂
I also liked the Nepalese knife (Letter Opener).
Somehow it represented to me the SPF,
and the friendship of the Police officers.
I still loved the people of Singapore, and I still want to serve them. However, after observing the changes in the socio-political landscape, I have come to the conclusion that the best place to serve the people of Singapore may no longer be in the Government. There has been a shift of power from the Government to the people. I want now, to be simply part of the people.
This is a plaque which followed me for most of my years in the civil service.
It was my motto, and it still is.
For the period that I was with the civil service, I hope that I did good, and I showed kindness. I met many true friends (you know who you are). Thank you, for enriching my life, and teaching me many life lessons (and sharing with me many wonderful makan sessions).
There were many moments in my life, including working life, which I would wish to re-live. But life does not turn back. So wish me well, for the next leg of my journey! Thank you, once again, the Singapore Civil Service. You made me a better person.
